Study of antitumor activity in breast cell lines using silver nanoparticles produced by yeast

In the present article, we describe a study of antitumor activity in breast cell lines using silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) synthesized by a microbiological method. These Ag NPs were tested for their antitumor activity against MCF7 and T47D cancer cells and MCF10-A normal breast cell line. We analyzed cell viability, apoptosis induction, and endocytosis activity of those cell lines and we observed that the effects of the biosynthesized Ag NPs were directly related with the endocytosis activity. Moreover, Ag NPs had higher inhibition efficacy in tumor lines than in normal lines of breast cells, which is due to the higher endocytic activity of tumor cells compared to normal cells. In this way, we demonstrate that biosynthesized Ag NPs can be an alternative for the treatment of tumors.Support from Universidad Nacional de San Luis, to the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) (Argentina), and from GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer-University of Granada, Andalusian Regional Government, Granada, Spain are acknowledged

Protein crystallization in short-peptide supramolecular hydrogels: A versatile strategy towards biotechnological composite materials

Protein crystallization in hydrogels has been explored with the main purpose of facilitating the growth of high quality crystals while increasing their size to enhance their manipulation. New avenues are currently being built for the use of protein crystals as source materials to create sensors and drug delivery vehicles, to name just a few. In this sense, short-peptide supramolecular hydrogels may play a crucial role in integrating protein crystals within a wider range of applications. In this article, we show that protein crystallization in short-peptide supramolecular hydrogels is feasible and independent of the type of peptide that forms the hydrogel and/or the protein, although the output is not always the same. As a general trend, it is confirmed that hydrogel fibers are always incorporated within crystals so that novel composite materials for biotechnological applications with enhanced properties are produced.This research was funded by the MICINN (Spain) projects BIO2010-6800 (JAG), CTQ2012-34778 (JJDM), and “Factoría Española de Cristalización” Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (JAG & MCM), and by Junta de Andalucía (Spain) project P12-FQM- 2721 (LAC). EDRF funds JAG, LAC & JMC. JJDM thanks MICINN for a Ramon y Cajal Fellowship and MCM thanks CSIC for her JAE Fellowshi

Influence of the chirality of short peptide supramolecular hydrogels in protein crystallogenesis

For the first time the influence of the chirality of the gel fibers in protein crystallogenesis has been studied. Enantiomeric hydrogels 1 and 2 were tested with model proteins lysozyme and glucose isomerase and a formamidase from B. cereus. Crystallization behaviour and crystal quality of these proteins in both hydrogels are presented and compared.MICINN (Spain) projects BIO2010-16800 (JAG), CTQ-2011.22455 (LAC & JMC), CTQ2012-34778 (JJDM & ALG), “Factoría Española de Cristalización” Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (JAG & MCM) and EDRF Funds (JAG, LAC & JMC), P12-FQM-2721 (LAC) Junta de Andalucía.MINECO,Project No. FIS2013-41821-R

Control of the flame front advance in a sintering bed of iron ores

11 páginas, 15 figuras, 4 tablas.[EN] A sintering pan of 40 cm cubed is loaded with a mixture of iron ores, limestone and coke weighing 110 kg in a sintering pilot plant. In this sintering pan, a series of thermocouples have been introduced at different depths. Tests have been carried out to study the width of the combustion zone and the maximum temperature of the flame front across the sintering bed. For the analysis of the results, a data acquisition system was used. This consisted of two modules connected in serie, for performing the analogue-digital conversion. The analogue entry point is the exit point of the thermocouples and the digital exit point was the temperature average. A computer was used for conserving and storing the data and for carrying out interpolations, simulating the state and evolution of the flame front across the bed.[ES] En una planta piloto de sinterización se cargan, en la paila cúbica de 40 cm de lado, 110 kg de una mezcla de minerales de hierro, caliza y coque, donde se han introducido una serie de termopares a diferentes profundidades. Se realizan ensayos para estudiar la evolución del ancho de la zona de combustión y de la temperatura máxima del frente de llama a través del lecho de sinterización. Para el análisis de los resultados se utiliza un sistema de adquisición de datos formado por dos módulos conectados en serie, encargados de realizar la conversión analógico-digital. La entrada analógica es la salida de los termopares y la salida digital es la medida de la temperatura. Se dispone de un ordenador para la conservación y almacenamiento de los datos y para realizar interpolaciones que simulan el estado y evolución del frente de llama a través del lecho.Peer reviewe

Forecast situation of the blast furnace cohesive zone

[ES]En planta piloto se fabrica una serie de sinterizados a partir de mezclas minerales como las utilizadas en el horno alto. Se caracterizan los sinterizados mediante análisis químico y granulométrico y determinación de las temperaturas de reblandecimiento y fusión. En el horno alto, mediante una serie de sondas, se determinan las temperaturas en el horno, lo que permite situar la posición de la isoterma de mayor temperatura de 950 °C, que corresponde a la zona de reserva térmica. Se ha desarrollado un modelo que propone una estimación indirecta de la forma de la zona cohesiva a través de la determinación de la isoterma de mayor temperatura de la zona de reserva térmica. Los valores de las temperaturas de reblandecimiento y fusión de los sinterizados permiten estimar las isotermas que limitan la zona cohesiva, en el intervalo de 1.300-1.400 °C.[EN] A series of sinters are manufactured in the pilot plant, using a mineral mixture, like that blast furnace. The sinters are characterised, by chemical and granulometric analysis and by determining the softening and melting temperatures. In the blast furnace temperatures are determined by using a series of probes in the furnace which make it possible to locate the position of the isotherm of higher temperature of 950°C, which correspond to the reserve thermic zone. A model has been developed, proposing and indirect estimation of the shape of the cohesive zone through the determination of the isotherm with the highest temperature in the thermic reserve zone. The values of the softening and melting temperatures of sinters can be used to estimate the isotherms limiting the cohesive zone in the 1300- 1400 °C range.Peer reviewe

The influence of different iron ores mixtures composition on the quality of sinter

Sinters were produced in the pilot plant using four different ore mixtures with varying proportions of iron ores, fluxes and coke. All the resulting sinters were characterised by chemical and granulometric analysis, degradation testing during reduction in the blast furnace (RDI test), cold resistance testing (Tumbler test), reducibility testing, determination of softening and melting temperatures, and determination of the sinter structure by electron microscopy. The obtained result allow for the establishment of better operation conditions to manufacture sinters. © 2010 ISIJ.Peer Reviewe

Relationship between sinter properties and iron ore granulation index

A range of iron ores were used in varying proportions to prepare 28 different ore mixtures. Each mixture was classified according to its granulation index and sintered in a pilot plant. The resulting sinters were characterised by chemical analysis, degradation during reduction in the blast furnace (reduction degradation index test), cold strength (tumbler test), coke consumption and process productivity. Sinter quality was assessed in relation to the granulation index of the ore mixture. © 2012 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.Peer Reviewe

Fuzzy control of micum strength for iron ore sinter

The proper performance of sinter plants is vital for efficient and uniformly blast furnace operations. For smooth sinter plants operation, changes to the operating conditions should be few and precise. This paper explains advisory platforms that supply control strategies and sinter quality estimations to the plant operators, developing mathematical model, which are able to advise them about the necessary decisions to improve sinter quality. These models, based on Fuzzy Logic sets, have been developed to supply control strategies and sinter quality estimations to the plant operators at a Spanish factory. © 2006 ISIJ.Peer Reviewe

Solid-fluid characteristics at the blast furnace hearth according to the nodal wear model (NWM)

[ES]La porosidad del coque aparece como unas de las variables que más pueden afectar a la producción de arrabio y a la correspondiente corrosión de los revestimientos. Hasta el momento, en la bibliografía existente sobre la corrosión de los revestimientos, siempre se asocia un mayor desgaste con el correspondiente incremento del flujo del fluido (arrabio) en el crisol. No obstante, no se tiene referencia de ningún modelo determinístico que pudiera relacionar, desde el punto de vista teórico, las siguientes variables: corrosión de los revestimientos, porosidad del coque inactivo y flujo del arrabio en el crisol. El Modelo de Desgaste Nodal (MDN), además de justificar los perfiles de corrosión de los revestimientos a lo largo de la campaña, puede ser un instrumento eficaz para interpretar la porosidad del coque y los gradientes de velocidad del arrabio que se generan dentro del crisol.[EN]The coke porosity is one of the most important variables that can affect the pig iron production and the lining corrosion. Up to now, the existing bibliography about lining corrosion always connects a deeper wear to an increase in the fluid flow (pig iron) at the blast furnace hearth. However, there is no evidence of any deterministic model that could link, from the theoretical point of view, the following variables: lining corrosion, porosity of dead coke and flow of pig iron at the hearth. Besides justifying the lining corrosion profiles, the Nodal Wear Model (NWM) can be an effective instrument to interpret the coke porosity and the pig iron speed rates that are generated inside the hearth.Los autores del trabajo quieren agradecer al Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia-España (MEC): MAT2003- 00502, al Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y Cooperación (MAEC): MAEC-AECI-B/1629/04; B/2884/05; B/5814/06, B/7648/07 y al CSIC-Madrid por facilitar la cooperación científica y tecnológica entre el CENIM y la Universidad de Oviedo.Peer reviewe